- What We Do
Knox & Associates is a full-service forensic consulting firm that serves attorneys, insurance companies, private investigation firms, police departments, prosecutors offices, and others with a need for traffic accident consultation. We can assist your traffic accident case by providing the following services:
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FULL ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC CRASHES BEYOND THE POLICE REPORTS
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PHYSICAL INSPECTION & PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE SCENE & VEHICLES
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TECHNICAL & MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
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INSPECTION & INTERPRETATION OF POLICE & MEDICAL REPORTS
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PARTICIPATION IN DEPOSITIONS & OTHER PROCEEDINGS WITH THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF TRANSCRIPTS
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LEGAL, TECHNICAL, & FACTUAL RESEARCH FOR CASE PREPARATION
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PREPARATION OF LITIGATION MATERIALS SUCH AS DIAGRAMS, VIDEOTAPES, & COMPUTER ANIMATIONS
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PROVIDE EXPERT TESTIMONY AS TO THE PHYSICS & DYNAMICS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
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CONSULTATION ON LEGAL STRATEGY INCLUDING HYPOTHETICALS
Knox & Associates will provide a comprehensive report on the findings of the reconstruction including a full technical analysis of the collision. We can provide hypothetical situations which could theoretically alter the outcome of a given collision in order to mitigate or aggravate liability.
Knox & Associates specializes in impaired driving cases. Firm founder Michael A. Knox is a police detective with experience in hundreds of impaired driving investigations. Knox & Associates handles all types of traffic accident cases including those involving motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, and commerical motor vehicles.
Fundamentals
Traffic accident reconstruction is a multidisciplinary process which involves both art and science to establish the events surrounding a traffic accident. The practice of traffic accident reconstruction requires both the technical knowledge of vehicle dynamics and the experience of dealing with actual traffic accident scenes. Knox & Associates brings you this expertise.
The expertise brought to you by Knox & Associates allows for testimony on the following factors:
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behavior and dynamics of vehicles
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interpretation of physical evidence
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pre-reaction vehicle speeds
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energy involved in creating vehicle damage
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occupant kinematics & injury mechanisms
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time-distance relationships
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perception-reaction
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visibility & conspicuity
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human behavior in traffic accidents
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drug & alcohol impairment
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if lights were on or off at time of impact
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tire failure involvement in accident
Knox & Associates is able to provide many services which may be of benefit to personal injury litigation:
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diagrams of traffic accident scenes
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photography of scenes and vehicles
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technical research
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vehicle processing
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comprehensive written reports
Knox & Associates can deal with many different types of accidents:
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single & multiple vehicle accidents
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motorcycle accidents
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pedestrian-involved accidents
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commercial motor vehicles
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impaired drivers
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low speed impacts
Knox & Associates can also use physical evidence to establish the positions of vehicles at the time of impact.
Vehicle Speed Analysis
- Using roadway evidence, it was determined that this motorcycle had been traveling between 35 and 38 miles per hour when its operator lost control causing serious injury.
Based on the available physical evidence, Knox & Associates may determine the speeds of vehicles using the following methods:
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skid mark analysis
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critical speed scuff mark analysis
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vehicle rollover analysis
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airborne vehicle analysis
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energy methods/vehicle damage
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conservation of linear momentum
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pedestrian dynamics & injuries
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motorcycle sliding & tumbling distances
Time Distance Analysis
Using the calculated speeds of vehicles, Knox & Associates can determine the time-distance relationships of the involved vehicles and use that information to play hypothetical scenarios to determine what would have happened had a certain factor been different. For example, it may be determined that an accident could have been avoided had a vehicle not been speeding. Knox & Associates might also determine that a driver could have swerved to avoid striking a pedestrian in the roadway.
Physical Evidence
- Speckling on this tire indicates that heavy braking was applied prior to impact.
The stock-in-trade of a traffic accident reconstructionist is physical evidence. Drivers are not always truthful, and witnesses can be wrong. Properly interpreted, however, physical evidence does not lie. Knox & Associates can determine what role a particular piece of evidence played in an accident. Knox & Associates can also explain to a jury how the physical evidence affects the reconstruction of an accident.
Tire Failures
- Damage to this tire was caused by the vehicle’s impact with a concrete utility pole, not a tire failure.
Tire failure cases have become a significant issue in personal injury claims. Knox & Associates can investigate these failures and provide expert testimony as to their cause, as well as their effect on a traffic crash.
Lamp Examination
- This headlamp was on at the time of the collision.
Vehicle lamps can provide solid evidence as to whether or not a specific light was on during a collision. Knox & Associates can evaluate a vehicle's lamps and provide a report as to the on/off status of those lamps at the time of the collision. Knox & Associates can also take close-up photographs that can be presented in court.
Occupant Kinematics
- Through the analysis of occupant kinematics, the identity of this impaired driver was established.
The movement of a vehicle’s occupants during a collision can be an important issue in traffic accident litigation. The mechanics of physical injury require that some force produced that injury. By studying the occupant kinematics of an accident, Knox & Associates can determine such issues as seating positions and the possibility of injury.
Impaired Drivers
- Serious injury occurred when an alcohol-impaired driver collided with a concrete utility pole.
Drug and alcohol impairment is a serious issue for traffic accident injury litigation. With experience in hundreds of impaired driving cases, Knox & Associates brings you the highest level of expertise in DUI-related crashes. Testimony about the behavior of impaired drivers can aid litigation.
Laser Mapping & Scene Diagramming
Computer-aided diagramming can be accomplished quickly and provides a great enhancement to any case. It is mandatory for accurate traffic crash reconstruction.
